02101nas a2200265   4500008004100000245010300041210006900144300001400213490000700227520132500234653001501559653001701574653001101591653002301602653001301625653002801638653001201666653000901678653000901687100002001696700001501716700001501731700001501746856007401761       2017                        eng d00aRestoration and management for plant diversity enhances the rate of belowground ecosystem recovery0 aRestoration and management for plant diversity enhances the rate  a355 - 3620 v273 a<p>The positive relationship between plant diversity and ecosystem functioning has been criticized for its applicability at large scales and in less controlled environments that are relevant to land management. To inform this gap between ecological theory and application, we compared recovery rates of belowground properties using two chronosequences consisting of continuously cultivated and independently restored fields with contrasting diversity management strategies: grasslands restored with high plant richness and managed for diversity with frequent burning (n = 20) and grasslands restored with fewer species that were infrequently burned (n = 15). Restoration and management for plant diversity resulted in 250% higher plant richness. Greater recovery of roots and more predictable recovery of the active microbial biomass across the high diversity management strategy chronosequence corresponded with faster recovery of soil structure. The high diversity grasslands also had greater nutrient conservation indicated by lower available inorganic nitrogen. Thus, mesic grasslands restored with more species and managed for high plant diversity with frequent burning enhances the rate of belowground ecosystem recovery from long-term disturbance at a scale relevant to conservation practices on the landscape</p>10aAggregates10aBiodiversity10acarbon10aEcosystem function10anitrogen10aphospholipid fatty acid10aprairie10aroot10asoil1 aKlopf, Ryan, P.1 aBaer, S.G.1 aBach, E.M.1 aSix, Johan  uhttps://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/eap.1503